Ash-sifter.



H. R. JOHNSON.

ASH SIFTEH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2, |915- RENEWED I N. 19'7. 1.217,31 Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

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(g1/ventola l?. R. Johnaah.

elfqftmeooas R. R. JOHNSON.

ASH SIFTER.

APPLICATION F1150 ocT.2.1915. RENEwED JAN. 11.1917.

Patented Feb. 27, 191,7.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Ji. R. Jahhson,

ROBERT R. JOHNSON, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

ASH-SIFTIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

Application led ctober 2, 1915, Serial No. 53,800. Renewed January 1*?, 1917. Serial- No. 142,966.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT R.` JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ash-Sifters,fof which the following is a specification.

The invention contemplates the provision of a combined shovel and ash sifter, des-igned to permit of the ashes to be sifted in the ash pit of a stove, furnace, or the like, during which time the draft through the stove or furnace will carry off the dust through the chimney, and thereby prevent the same from entering the room.

In carrying out my invention I aim to provide a novel construction of a device of the above mentioned character, embodying among other features a sifter screen pivotally supported in spaced relation above the bottom of the shovel, with means for operating the same, whereby the unconsumed particles of fuel remainingaipon the screen subsequent to the sifting Operation, can be readily delivered into the stove, while'the ashes and other refuse supported upon the shovel proper may be then distributed into a suitable receptacle. l

Other objects will appear. as the. nature of the invention is better understood, the same residing in the combination, construction and arrangements. of parts hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and where-l Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on lines a-a of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the sifter screen.

Fig. G is a. similar view of' the pivoted plate for cont-rolling the discharge opening at the end of the shovel.

Referringmore particularlyv to the drawings A indicates generally a shovel of usual formation, constructed from sheet meta-lv and comprising' a bottom 5, side walls 6, a rear endf wall 7', and a handle 8, the latter being 'preferably' hollow.

Pivotally mounted between the side walls 6 of the shovel in spaced relation abo-ve the bottom 5 thereof is a sifter screen, which may be constructed from any suitable material and of any desired formation, but as shown in this embodiment of the invention comprises. a frame 9 constructed from a single length of wire'and outlined similar to-the above the bottom 5, while the opposite end of the frame is supported upon inwardly projecting lugs 14 formed from the side wall 6; adjacent the rear wall 7, to maintain the sift-er screen in its entirety spaced equidistantly from the bottom 5. One of the trunnions 13' is extended to provide a crank 15 with which one end of a reciprocating element 16 is connected for the purpose of operating the sifter in a manner to be presently' described., the element 16 comprising a single length of wire disposed eXteriorly of the shovel and extending throughout the entire length thereof, being bent inwardly as at 17 to enter the hollow handle through a suitable openingy 18 in the under side thereof, the element having a portion disposed within the handle, while the opposite end thereof' projects outwardly through an elongated slot 19 and terminates to provide a loop 20 adapted to be engaged by the finger to reciprocate the element for the purpose hereinabove stated.

Arranged at the: forward end of the sifter screen is a plate 21 normally closing the space between the sifter screen and 'the bottom 5 of the shovel, the upper edge of the plate being formed with spaced eyes 22 loosely embracing the cross piece 11 of the sifter, whereby the plate is mounted for swinging movement.

As above stated, the device is designed to permit the ashes to be si'fted within the" ash pit of a stove, furnace or the like, and that consequently the handle 8 may be of suitable length topermit ofv this use, The unsifted ashes are directed upon the sifter screen by means of the plate 21 and siftedv by imparting to the shovel a reciprocatory motion in the usual well kno-wn manner. During this sifting operation the finer particles of ashes will pass through the foraminous material upon the bottom 5 of the shovel, while the unconsumed particles of coal will remain upon the sifter screen. Subsequent to the sifting operation, the sifter screen is adapted to be elevated through the medium of the reciprocating element 16 in the manner shown in the drawings, with a view of returning the unconsumed particles of coal into the fire box of the stove, furnace or the like. The slot 19 is of such length, to permit the loop 2O to engage the end wall thereof to limit the upward movement of the sifter screen whereby the latter upon release of the finger from the manipulating loop 20, will gravitate 'to normal position. Subsequent to delivering the unconsumed coal into the fire box of the stove or the like, an hereinabove stated, the shovel is then intended to be disposed in a vertical position to permit the ashes and other refuse supported upon the bottoni 5 of the shovel. to be distributed into a suitable receptacle, it beingmanifest that the weight of the ashes will lift the plate '2l to permit of their discharge into the receptacle, after which the plate will gravitate to normal position thereby closing the opening between the upper edge of the sifter screen and the bottom 5 of the shovel.

y It is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be thoroughly understood without requiring a more extended explanation and therefore the same has been omitted. However l desire to have it understood that l do not limit myself to the precise construction herein illustrated and described, as various changes may be resorted to when desired, especially with regard to the formation and dimensions of the various parts, as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

l/Vhat is claimed is l. The combination with a shovel comprising a bottom and side walls, a sifter screen spaced above the bottom and pivotally mounted between the side walls adjacent the forward ends thereof, lugs projecting inwardly from the side walls adjacent the opposite ends thereof and adapted to supportv the free end of said sifter` in spaced relation to the bottom of the shovel, a swingingly mounted plate` normally closing the opening between the forward edge of the sifter vand said bottom, and a reciprocating element connected with said sifter for operating the latter.

2. The combination with a shovel comprising a handle, a bottom and side walls, of a sifter screen spaced above the bottom and pivotally mounted between said side walls adjacent the forward ends thereof, a reciprocating element disposed at one side of the shovel and having one end connectedl dle, and its free end projecting therefrom through an elongated slot therein, and formed to provide a manipulating loop, said loop being adapted to engage one end wall of said slot to limit the' movement of said element in one direction, and a swingingly mounted plate at the forward end of the shovel for normal y closing the opening 'between said sifter and the bottom of the shovel.

8. The combination with a shovel, of a sifting screen spaced above the bottom thereof and pivotally associated therewith adfz.- cent ,its fornf'ard end, a plate swirgingly supported upon the forward et gc of the sifter and normally closing the opening tl'1ercbctwecn and the bottom of the shovel, means for raising said sifter indcpendeiitl); of the plate, and means for limiting tho npward .movement of the sifter whereby the latter will gravitate to normal position upon release of said means.

4. The combination with a shovel, of a sifter screen spaced above the bottom thereof and including a frame, and a sheet of foraminated material covering the latter, the side members of the frame being pivotally associated with the shovel adjacent its forward end, one of said members terminating in a crank, a reciprocating element having one end connected with the crank and its opposite end associated with the handle of the shovel for operating said sifter, and a plate mounted on the vforward end of the sifter for independent swinging movement, said plate normally closing the opening between the forward edge of the sifter and bottom of the shovel.

5. rlhe combination with a shovel, of a sifting element normally disposed in spaced relation above the bottom of the shovel, and adapted to initially receive and support thereon the unsifted material, said element being pivotally connected with the forward end of the shovel, and means for tilting said element subsequent to the sifting operation to discharge the larger particles of said material therefrom.

6.,'l`he combination with a shovel, of a sifting element normally disposed in spaced relation above the bottom of said shovel, and adapted to initially receive and support thereon the unsifted material, said element being pivotally connected with the forward end of the shovel, means for tilting said element in the direction of the forward end of the shovel subsequent to the sifting operation to discharge therefrom the larger particles of the said material, and means for limiting the adjustment of said element.

7. The combination with a shovel, of a sifting element pivotally connected with the side walls thereof adjacent their forward ends, said element being disposed above the bottom and below the upper edges of said sideJ walls, means controlling the opening between the forward edge of the sifter and the bottom of the shovel, and adapted when in normal position to direct the unsifted material upon said element, means for reciprocating the device to sift the material through said element upon the shovel7 and said first mentioned means being free to automatically assume an inoperative position to permit the sifted material to be discharged from the shovel through said opening.

S. The combination with a shovel, of a sifting element pivotally connected with the side walls thereof adjacenttheir forward ends, said element being disposed above the bottom of the shovel and below the upper edges of said side walls7 means for controlling the opening between the forward edge of the sifter and the bottom of the shovel and adapted when in normal position to direct the unsifted material upon said sifter, means for tilting the sifter toward the forward end of the shovel subsequent to the sifting operation to discharge therefrom the larger .particles of the material, and said rst mentioned means being freely supported to gravitate to inoperative position to permit the sifted material to be discharged from the shovel through said opening.

In testimony whereof I an'ix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT R. JOHNSON.

lVitnesses JAMES M. NoYEs, JAMES E. WARREN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

